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Mashed Sweet Potatoes are creamy, savory, and incredibly easy to make. Butter, garlic, sour cream, and a touch of Parmesan take this mashed sweet potato recipe to the next level.
These healthy mashed sweet potatoes are smooth, flavorful, and perfect for any meal. Watch the video below or follow the step-by-step guide in this post to see how to make mashed sweet potatoes at home.
What Makes This Recipe Work
Sour cream adds a light tang and creamy texture, while butter brings just enough richness. Garlic and Parmesan give the Mashed Sweet Potatoes a savory depth that balances the natural sweetness of the potatoes.
Sweet potatoes are naturally smooth when cooked, so a splash of milk is all you need to make them perfectly fluffy without heavy cream.
What Goes Into Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This mashed sweet potato recipe keeps things simple while packing in rich, savory flavor. A few key ingredients come together to create a creamy, irresistible side dish.
- Sweet Potatoes: Naturally sweet and velvety, they’re the perfect base for a flavorful mash.
Unsalted Butter: Adds a rich, buttery flavor without overpowering the sweetness.
Sour Cream: The secret to ultra-creamy, slightly tangy mashed sweet potatoes.
Parmesan Cheese: Optional, but adds a salty, nutty depth that enhances the savory profile.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 2-inch cubes, place in a large pot, cover with water, and season with 3 teaspoons salt. Boil, then simmer until fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add butter, sour cream, garlic, the remaining teaspoon of salt, and Parmesan cheese.
- Mash everything using a potato masher until smooth. Add milk if you want a creamier texture.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve warm.
These Mashed Sweet Potatoes pair beautifully with hearty, comforting mains. For a show-stopping holiday meal, try them alongside Crispy Beer Roast Turkey: the crispy skin and juicy meat balance the creamy sweetness perfectly.
They’re also a great match for Juicy Oven-Roasted Pork Loin, with its savory, garlicky crust, or a Tender Pot Roast, where the rich, slow-cooked beef and pan juices soak deliciously into the mash.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes! Sweet potatoes are packed with fiber, vitamins B and C, calcium, iron, selenium, and beta-carotene. They’re also low on the glycemic index, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable and keeps you feeling full longer.
Boil sweet potatoes for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Just poke one with a fork—if it slides in easily, they’re ready to mash. It’s quicker than roasting and perfect when you’re short on time.
It’s up to you. The skins are edible and soften while cooking, but for a smoother, creamier mash like this recipe, it’s best to peel them first.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes On Video
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes
- 4 teaspoons salt divided
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sour cream (reduced fat)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese fresh shredded, optional
- 1/4 cup milk if desired
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, optional to garnish
Instructions
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 2-inch cubes.
- Place sweet potatoes in a large pot (6-quart) and cover with water by an inch. Season with 3 teaspoons salt and bring to a boil, reduce heat down to medium-low and allow to simmer until fork tender (about 15-20 minutes).
- Drain cooked potatoes, add in the butter, sour cream, garlic, remaining salt and parmesan.
- Mash with a potato masher until smooth, adding milk if desired for a smoother/lighter mash.
- Garnish with parsley, serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can this recipe be made the day before serving?
Hi Bea! Absolutely, this recipe can easily be done the day before.
Can you make this recipe the day before serving
Hi Bea! Yes,you can!
Just made this recipe but added 1 teaspoon of light brown sugar to bump up the savory flavor. Hubby and I loved it! TY!!!
First time I made mashed sweet potatoes. So glad I tried these. They were delicious, easy to make, and reheated well. Will make again.
Never really gave mashed sweet potatos a thought but after trying some of your other recipes i think i will